How Did You Make That Money

Margaret Evans trembled with rage. Though she was usually timid and gentle, she loved her daughter fiercely and couldn't stand anyone speaking ill of Lily Evans.

Mrs. Thompson was blatantly slinging mud at Lily Evans, and Margaret Evans felt a surge of anger rush to her head. She lunged forward, grabbing Mrs. Thompson's collar and yelled, "You foul-mouthed, black-hearted woman! Why don't your lips rot off!"

Mrs. Thompson never expected the usually meek Margaret Evans to explode like this. Off guard, she was scratched across the face, drawing blood. Quickly recovering, she hoisted the frail Margaret Evans up and spat, "I knew a shameless woman like you couldn't raise anything decent! Your Lily Evans is selling herself at Savory House, and everything you eat and wear comes from your daughter's dirty money! What are you so proud of!? If I were you, I'd have killed myself out of shame long ago!"

Mrs. Thompson cursed, raising her hand high and swung it toward Margaret Evans's face.

Margaret Evans stared wide-eyed at the incoming slap, but before Mrs. Thompson's hand could land...

"You dare hit my mother!" Lucky suddenly charged over and kicked Mrs. Thompson square in the chest.

Lucky didn't use his full strength, but still sent Mrs. Thompson flying, crashing into the fence far away.

Mrs. Thompson's face twisted in terror as she screamed, "Murder! The fool is killing someone!"

"Mother, are you alright?" Lily Evans and Cynthia Wu rushed out at the commotion, seeing Margaret Evans pale and her collar torn by Mrs. Thompson.

"Lily, I'm fine," Margaret Evans steadied herself. "Thank goodness for Lucky."

Lucky stood protectively in front of Margaret Evans and Lily Evans, glaring fiercely at Mrs. Thompson like a guardian spirit.

Mrs. Thompson sat on the ground, bawling and wailing, drawing all the nearby villagers over.

"I can't live like this! Lily Evans's family gets rich and turns their back on us poor villagers, even hurting people! Are they trying to beat me to death?" Mrs. Thompson wailed like a banshee.

"So what if I hit you! You're the one spreading rumors and slinging mud at me—you asked for it! Remember what I said last time? My mother is my treasure, and anyone who touches her will regret it!" Lily Evans had already heard the gist from Margaret Evans and was fuming. Why couldn't Mrs. Thompson ever behave?

Only now did Mrs. Thompson remember—she'd been so blinded by jealousy that she'd forgotten how Lily Evans had threatened Mrs. Zhao with her cousin Samuel Evans's future last time.

This shrew Lily Evans was even willing to threaten her own cousin's prospects—Mrs. Thompson was genuinely a bit afraid of her.

"Anyway, your family hit me so hard I can't even stand up. What are you going to do about it?" Mrs. Thompson didn't dare mention the rumor about Lily Evans and the Savory House owner, terrified Lucky might really punch her again.

With Lucky's strength, even if Mrs. Thompson's husband John Thompson came, he wouldn't stand a chance against Lucky.

"So what do you want?" Lily Evans fixed Mrs. Thompson with a cold stare. She knew this shrew was just out to extort money.

Sure enough, Mrs. Thompson demanded, "Lily, your husband hit me, so you owe me medicine money! I can't even get up—you should give me at least ten taels of silver!"

"Ten taels? You couldn't fetch ten taels even if you were sold!" Lily Evans burst out laughing.

Seeing Lily Evans refuse, Mrs. Thompson wailed, "What, you hurt someone and don't pay up? Your family gets rich and suddenly looks down on the rest of us?"

Lily Evans retorted, "Pay what? Ten taels could feed your family for two years! You're shameless to ask for so much!"

"Ten taels is nothing! That pot of meat alone is worth three or four taels! Why are you so stingy? If you're short on money, just go to Savory House and..." Mrs. Thompson nearly blurted out for Lily Evans to go serve the Savory House owner, but stopped herself, fearing another beating.